Decorticating machine



July 23, 1946. J REEVES 2,404,457

DECORTICATING i MACHINE Filed March 25, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet l y Jblui' s. Reeves;

ATTORNEYS July 23,1946.' s, EEvgs 2,404,457

DECORTICATING MACHINE Fi led March 25, 194, s Sheets-Sheet 2 2 7 'INVENfOR. 3Q U) Y .bluz

cZm/MWQ/m I ATTORNEYS July 23, 1 946. I J. 5. REEVES- 2,404,457

' DECORTICATING MACHINE Filed March 25, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 y 6- J. s. REEVES DECORTICAT-ING MACHINE Filed March 25, 1944 s Sheets-Sheet 4 JOIZIILSPEM.

a u u o a o no July 23, 1946. 5, E E 1 2,404,457

DECORTICATING MACHINE Filed March 25, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 A TTOP/VEYS Patented July 23, 1946 UNITED ST TES P TENT DECORTICATING MACHINE .lohn S. Reeves, Baltimore, Md. Application March 25, 1944, Serial No. 528,128

12 Claims.

This invention relates to decorticating machines particularly adapted for the production of fiber from the leaves of plants of the Agave family, such as Sansevieria, cabulla, Maya, pita flora, henequen, and the like. r

The leaves of such plants are long and relatively narrow and contain longitudinalwhite fibers which can be recovered by cleaning away the pulp, juice, etc. waste material, referred to as bagasse, is stripped from the leaves by scutching blades mounted on the periphery of a rotating wheel or drum. The leaves hang downwardly over an arcuate scutching face substantially concentric with the wheel, the blades exerting a squeezing and scraping effect which travels progressively along the leaves toward their free ends, stripping away the bagasse. The clearance between the scutching surface and blades must be very small to insure eflicient cleaning, 1. e., on the order of several thousandths of an inch.

To provide completecleaning of the leaves from butt to tip, they are held first so that one end hangs down over the scutching faceand this half of the leaf is cleaned, andthen the leaves are automatically reversed and held by the cleaned fiber while the other end or half is being cleaned. The second cleaning operation may be accomplished by a second scutching wheel as in my prior Patent No. 2,341,290, or each leaf may be caused to pass the same scutching wheel twice, once for each end to be cleaned. The present invention relates particularly to a machine of the latter type.

One of the objectsof the invention is to provide such a, machine of novel and improved de-. sign and constructionwhichis simple and inexpensive with a minimum of moving parts to deteriorate or wear out in service, thus redu c ing construction and maintenance cost and providing greater safetyfor personnel.

Another object is to provide an improved form of scutching face which enables very close clearance to be maintained for efiective cleaning while at the same time too great compression of the fibers themselves with consequent damage or breaking is avoided. i

A further object is to provide an I improved form of scutching device or blade for-crushing and stripping away the bagassefrom the leaves.

Two embodiments of the invention have been illustrated in theaccornpanying drawings but it' is to be expressly understood that said draw-.- ings, are ,for purposes of} illustration only. and

In the usual machine this Fig. 1 is a side view of an'apparatus embody;

ing the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1; t I I Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3- 3 of Fig. 2;

3a is a detail view showing. a scutching support; i-

r Fig. 4 is a detail'view in perspective offajpart oi the apparatus; 1 I I Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate the shape of the scutching blades; Y v v Fig. '7 is an enlarged detail showing the action of the scutching blade: I Fig. 8 is a plan view of another embodiment of the-invention; i

FigsJQ and mechanism used in the'apparatus of Fig. 8}" Fig. 11 is aside View of Fig. 8, working from the bottom of the latter figure; 2 1 f v Fig. lzisa partial side view of Fig. 8 looking from the right-hand side of the latter figure and showing the details of the chain drive; and

Fig. 13 is a perspective detail of the "chain. Referring first to Figs. 1 to '7, inclusive, the machine in general comprises a suitable frame carrying a horizontal conveying table which rotates on a vertical axis and is provided at one side with a scutching support and wheel cooperating therewith. I Leaves'to be cleaned are fed to themachine in any suitable manner and are. carried twice past the scutching wheel in order to clean both'ends orhalves of the leaves as described above, the cleaned fiber being there after discharged automatically from the machine. In the form shown, the machine frame cor'n prises: a bed 1 which is built up atone side to form horizontal supports 2 for the bearings 3 of,

a scutching wheel indicated generally 'at"4. The upper half 'of the wheel may be enclosed-in a suitable casing 5.' The'horizontal frame m'em berst support a step bearing 1 for the shaft 8 of a rotating conveyingtable 9, theupper 'end of the shaftihaving a bearingv l0 carriedby' the frame members H'. 'The members I] also sup.-

are nOtffO be taken as a definition of. iheilimits a foren'gaging the leaves, such as the projectin 10"are .detail viewsof a chain v means;

. J ins la-and is rotated in any suitable manner yes by means of the gear wheel 15 carried by the shaft 8 and driven by a pinion E6 on a vertical shaft [1 the lower end of which carries a worm wheel l8 meshing with a worm l9 driven by a motor 20.

As each leaf approaches the scutching' wheel, one of its ends is held on the table top and the leaf is bent'downwardly over the periphery of. the

table so'that its lowerhalf is in'position to pass.

over aicurved 'scutchin g support 2! secured in any suitable manner tothe circular frame mem j ber 22. In the. form shown, the end of the leaf? able springs 24, the end of the barbei'ng-preferably curved upwardly at 25 to ride over the appreaching leaves. This bar cooperates with the V inarginalsurface of thejtable throughout the recircumference by 'acurved bar 27 for a purpose described hereinafter, and the leaves are bent positively "down over the bar 21 by the following i A leaf-holding nemben28 cooperates with the outer surface of'the bar Z'I adjacent the scutching wheel, the end zs of said member being. bent away from the periphery of the table. The weight of the ends 0f 'the leaves projecting beyond the periphery Qf the table causes them to bend downwardly enough to passunder the end 29 after which they are bent sharply downward between the members 21 and r 28 as they reach the scutching wheel.- The 00- operating surfaces'of ther'nernb'ers'll and123 are scutchin'g wheel. Preferably the periphery of the table '9 is also supported adjacent the 'scutching' Wheel against this same downward pullyas by means of aroller 3| carried by ab-racket 32 secured to the frame portion 22.'

,As the leaves-pass'the scutcliing wheel and.

move onward with the'rotating table, the lower halves comprise 'depulped' andjcleaned fiber. Shortlybeyond the scutching wheel, the member is held on the table topby a presser bar 2-3 grooved to receive 7 the pins l4 and pressed downwardly into engagement with the top of the table by suitpreferably provided with'inter'engaging ribs and grooves indicated at at in Fig; 1 to' assist in hold-. f ing thejleaves' against the downward pull of the 28 terminates and the member 21 is bent away from the periphery of the table and 'alsoinclined g downwardly at 33. Beyond this point means are providedfor elevating the middle portion of the leaf sothat the depending cleanedfiber is-also elevated and pulledjover'the inclined extension reaches the'end' s l of the member 21. In vthe form shown, this'is accomplished by "a bar 35 carried by a post S S and having a downwardly,

inclined portion filtermihatihg inn relatively Sharp d e 8 w i h' ars emare n Pi bar 23. Hence as'the leaves emerg'e" from'under the extension 39 of I the presser .-bar 23 which may be providedwith an additional spring 40,

. The; elevated fiber hanging down from" the bar 35 then passes under thejen'd 34 and between the member :21 ahq-theperipher or the table, "it extending longit inal y 0 t e suphit rni table surfaceadjacent" the end of "the presser tapered ends at the side of the wheel-a V thousandths of the bar 23, they ride up'the incline'tl as' shown t is j in Fig. 4; theuncleaned ends being howevenv heldion the table to'p'by suitable means such as it 35 pulls the uncleaned ends of the leaves off the ,,tdp; of the table and causes them to drop down over the outer surface of the-member 21. The

leaves in this position are carried around the table past the loading station and again under the 'member 28 so that the uncleaned halves now pass'over. the scutching support 2| and are cleaned; As the fully cleaned leaves move past the scutching wheel beyond the end of the member 28, they slide down'the inclined end 33 of the member 27 which thus comprises a means for discharging the cleaned fiberfrom the machine. The periphery of the scutchingwheel 4 carries a plurality of scutching blades 43 whicl'rarepreferably of the' type illustrated iri' detail in Figs. 5, 6 and '7. 4 For the 'purpose of clearly 5 describing and illustrating the preferred shape Of'] the scut'ching blades; Figs". 5and6' show one suitable way of 'maldngsuch blades. The operation begins with a'blank of circular cross section tapered at one'end to 'a nose as --showh ini ig. fifthis blank being subsequently quartered along the lines 240f. Fig 5 to form four of the blades 43. Y Before this is donefhowever,notches are ground or otherwise suitably formed inthj surface of the blank, thesenot che's extendin'g'in an axial direction'and each being substantially pan allel to but spaced froin one edge of: one of the quadrantal bodies subsequently to be cut from th blank. 1 s V He'n'ce eachblade whencompleted comprises an arcuate surface 46 and a scrapingiblade 41 throughout most of its length, but tapers off to a point at one end. As shown in Fig. 2, these blades are mounted on; the periphery of the 'scutching wheel at a slight angle to its axiswith their re hed by the l aves and with their arcuate Slll" advance of the 'bIadesITWithresceC to t he' direction of rotation of-"th'e Wheel; Preferably the blades are adjustabl'y mounted by suitable meanss'uch as angles dBl iaying' radialslots 49 whereinthe blade-holdings rews in can be adjusted and adjusting screws 5-? projecting through the surface of the scutchin'g when; The .mas'sof leaves hanging down and. iii-glacro'ss the scutching support are first-cf he N down 'a'gainst V the support lightly by the f ends of-the blades; and as they move" farther oss the support theyare crushed down to "a greater extent by the arcuateportions "ddand then scraped by the blades 4'1. erushessz are preferably mounted on the periphery of the sutbhing wheel between V the blades to assist in cle n ng the'nte'r. f

As noted above, it is necessary for efiective cleaning of the leaves that the seraper blades 47 be 'ad'jus'tedto a veryflclbse clearancerelative to the s'cutchi'ng support-9th.. o

s r mne. Supp-o rpv h 1 direction f movement of theblades' relative there to. This construction is illustrated in detail in Fig 3a, in whichthe scutching surface 53 is provided with a plurality of longitudinal grooves or corrugations. These grooves are preferably quite 'small, good results having been obtained with grooves which are 0.01 inch wide and 0.003 inch deep. They provide space for the fibers so that they are not subjected to undue compression between the scraping blades and the scutching surface, thereby minimizing damage to the product.

Either one or both of the members" 2'I and 28 can be replaced by chains running in engagement with the periphery of the table-as illustrated by Figs. 8-13, inclusive, which show an apparatus corresponding in construction and operation to the apparatus of Figs. 1-7 except that it has a moving chain in place of the stationary bar 21 (the member 28 or a chain equivalent thereof being omitted for simplification) Hence the construction and operation of this apparatus will be apparent from the foregoing description, except as to the details of the chain mechanism.

For reasons appearing hereinafter, it is desirable that the chain be capable of'turning in two planes at right angles to each otherand Figs. 9, and 13 illustrate a chainconst'ruction of this type. members which are the same in construction but are turned in opposite directions. Each of these links comprises at one end a pair of arms 51- adapted to carry a link pin 58, and at the other end a pair of arms 59 adapted to carry a link pin 60 at right angles to the link pin 58. Hence a sprocketwhich engages only thelink pins 60 permits the same to turn in a plane perpendicular to the axis of these pins, whereas a sprocket which engages only the link pins 58 permits the chain to turn in a plane at right angles to these pins and to the first plane.

The chain links are provided with pads 6| forming a substantially continuous surface cooperating with the periphery of the rotating table to hold the cleaned fiber in the same manner as the member 21 of Figs. 1-7. These pads 6| may be mounted on the chain in any suitable manner and as shown they are riveted at 62 to one 'of the arms 59 adjacent each of the link pins 60. The abutting ends of the pads are curved at 63 toaccommodate the turning of the chain on the link pins 60, and sufiicient clearance is provided between the abutting ends of the pads to permit turning of the chain about the linkspins 58. These pads form a substantially continuous surface around the periphery of the table and are provided with grooves 64 which cooperate with ribs .65 on the table for holding the cleaned fiber as described above. A suitable chain carrier 68 may be provided where desired. a

Figs. 8, 11 and 12 show the course of the chain whereby the pads which leave the table beyond the scutching wheel for the purpose of discharging the clean fiber are brought backiagainst-the periphery of the wheel to engage the elevated cleaned fiber at a point corresponding to the end 34 of the. member' 21 described above. As the chain leaves the scutching wheel, it passes over a vertical sprocket 61 and moves in a downwardly inclined, path as shown at 68 to a second vertical sprocket 69, thisincline corresponding to the discharge extension 33 of the previous embodiment. The chain then descends vertically at ID to a vertical sprocket H at right angles to the sprockets 61 and 69 which turns the chain into a horizontal path indicated at 12 with the pads 6| on the bot- This chain comprises alternate link tom. The chain then passes around a horizontal sprocket 13 and a vertical sprocket 14' parallel to the sprockets 61 and 69. Thus the chain travels a vertical path 15 to a vertical sprocket 16 parallel to the sprocket ll, andthen a horizontal path I1 leading back toward the" periphery of the table with thepads 6| on the proper side of thechain for engagement with the table as described above. The chain may be driven by any desired sprocket and for purposes of illustration a motor 18 has been shown connected to a driving sprocket 19 adjacent the point at which the chain again joins the periphery of the table. r

' While only two embodiments have been described and illustrated, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to these embodiments but may have a variety of mechanical forms without departing from its spirit, andalso that various changes may be made in the form, details of construction and arrange ment of the parts Hence reference should be had to the appended claims for a definition of the limits of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In apparatus of the class described, a rotating'table adapted to receive leaves to be cleaned, a scutching support beneath the periphery of said table at oneside thereof and a scutching wheel cooperating with said support, stationary leai 'holding' meanscooperating with the upper marginal surface of said table and adapted to hold-one end of a leafon-the table with the other end hangingrdown over said scutching support, additional stationary means located beyond said scutching wheel for elevating the depending cleaned end while the uncleaned end is thus held, means cooperating with the periphery of the table for engaging and holding the elevated cleaned end, .and means for thereafter overturning :th iuncleaned endof the leaf coming down over said peripheral holding means, said peripheral holding means extending continuously from the point of engagement of said cleaned end to and beyond said scutching wheel.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said peripheral holding means comprises a stationary bar curved to cooperate with the periphery of the table.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said peripheral holding means comprises a chain running in engagement with the periphery of the table.

4. In apparatus of the class described, a rotatingtable adapted to receive leaves to be cleaned, ascutching support beneath the periphery of the table at one side thereof and a scutching wheel cooperating with said support, stationary leaf holding means cooperating with the upper margina1 surface of said table and adapted to hold one end of a leaf on the table with the other end hanging 'down over said support, a stationaryinclined member beyond said wheel for elevating an intermediate part of the leaf and the cleaned end, therewith while the uncleaned end is thus held-,: means cooperatin with the periphery-{of the: tablefor engaging and holdin the. elevated cleaned end, and means for thereafter overturning the uncleaned end of the leaf to hang down over saidperipheral holding means, said peripheral holding meansextending continuously from the point of engagement of said cleaned end'to and beyond said scutching wheel.

' 5. In apparatus of the class described, a rotating table adapted to receive leaves to be cleaned, a scutching support beneath the periphery of said assists? 7 b e at o e side th r of and a som t in heel coope ati g with said sup or tat onar leaf holdin means cooperating with the upper marginal surface of said table and adapted to holdione end of a leaf on the table with the pther end hanging down over said support, additional stationary means located beyond said Wheel for elevating the depending cleaned end while the uncleaned end is thus held, means cooperating with the periphery of the table for engaging and holding the elevated cleaned end, and means for there.- after overturning theiuncleaned end of the leaf to hang down over said peripheral holding means, said peripheral holdin means extending continu'- ous y' fr m th oint of n agem t f 7 sa d cleaned end to and beyon said scutehing wheel, said scutchin wheel carrying a plurality of blades swiping over said scutching support to remove pulpy matter from the leaf and a plurality of brushes for brushingthe det-pulped fiber. 6. In apparatus of the class described, a rotating table adapted to receive leaves to be cleaned, a soutching support beneath the periphery of the table at one side thereof and a scutching wheel cooperating with said support, stationary leaf holding means cooperating with the upper marginal surface of said table and adapted to hold one end of a leaf ,on the table with the other end hanging down over said support, a stationary inclined member beyond said wheel for elevating an intermediate part of the leaf and the cleaned end therewith while the uncleaned end is thus held,

means cooperating with the periphery'of the tableforengaging and holding theele-vated cleaned 'end, and means for thereafter overturning the uncleaned end of the leafto hang down over said peripheral holding means, said peripheral holding means extending continuously from the point of engagement of said cleaned end to'and beyond said scutching wheel, said scutchin wheel carrying a plurality of blades wiping over said'scutching support to remove pulpy matter from the leaf and a plurality of brushes for brushing the depulped fiber.

'7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said peripheral holdingmeans comprises a stationary bar curved to cooperate with the periphery of the table.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said peripheral holdin means comprises a chain running in engagement with the periphery of the table. 7

9. Apparatus of the class described comprising a rotating table adapted to receive leaves to be cleaned, a scutching support beneath the periphery of said table at one side thereof and a scutching wheel cooperating with said support, inner peripheral leaf'holding means cooperating with the periphery of said table and extending past said scutching wheel, outer peripheral leaf holding means cooperating with said first means and extending past the scutchin wheel, the leaf being bent down between said inner and outer peripheral holdin means with itsend hanging down over said support as it passes said wheel, means located between the endof said outer holding ment of said blade.

eans n he. be inning-oi said inne holdin means fo eleva ng the e ending clean d e the lea aid e ev ted end bein t a t r o s d be e n, sa d i n r ans a d e p ery of the t b an mean o h r a ter o erturning the uncleaned end of the leaf to hang down over said inner'holdin means before it reaches the beginning of said outer means.

10. Apparatus of the class described comprising a rotating table adapted to receive leaves to be cl an d at one ide. the of, a ou c i e s ppo t be eath t e e ph r of t e table at a point beyon the receiving station in the direction of ta i a sou ohi s h el o pe ai ns with sai upport l holding means c o ra i g with t pe i her o e t b 'and ext n in fr a po nt a ead o he e ivin stat on past sa d s at o and scutching wheel, and terminating in a dishar e x en n at one s d f th ta let a s d ea dingmeans oo ra ng periph a ly h s d i st h l in means and e te in fro a oint beyond sa d r ceiv ng t ion p s ai scutching wheel to a point short of sa d discharge extension, means for holdin one, end of a leaf on the table top with the leaf bent down, between feeding leaves tobe cleaned past said support J with their ends hanging down thereover, said wheel carrying a scutching device extending transversely of its periphery at an angle to the wheel axis, .said device comprising an arcuate surface adapted to crush the leaves against said support followedby a scraper blade of greater radial extent from the wheel axis for stripping the pulpy matter from the fiber, the surface of said support being grooved in the direction of movement of said blade.v V

12, Apparatus ofthe class described comprising a scutching Wheel, a scutchin'g support substantially concentric therewith, and means for feeding leaves to be cleaned past said support with their ends hanging down thereover, said wheel carrying a scutching device extending transversely of its periphery at an angle to the wheel axis, said device comprising an arcuate surface adapted to crush the leaves against said support followed by a scraper blade of greater radial extent from the wheel axis for stripping the pulpy matter from the fiber, the radial extent fromthe wheel axis of said areuate surface and said blade decreasing toward the side of the wheel which the leaves approach, the surface, of said support being grooved'in the direction of move- JOHN SfREEVES; 

